South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in an unannounced late night address broadcast live on YTN television.

South Korea’s National Assembly voted to lift an emergency declaration of martial law just hours after President Yoon Suk Yeol announced it on Tuesday, in a swift rebuke of the president’s response to the political deadlock that has hobbled his tenure.

Parliamentary aides in South Korea emptied fire extinguishers on armed troops entering the national assembly as protesters took to the streets.

National Assembly Speaker Woo Won Shik declared the martial law declaration “invalid,” with parliament standing firm in its promise to “protect democracy with the people.” The military presence was withdrawn around 4:30 a.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday declared martial law in an unannounced late night address broadcast live on YTN television. Your trusted source for the latest news delivered weekdays from the team at U.

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Wednesday he would lift a surprise martial law declaration he had imposed just hours before, backing down in a standoff with parliament which roundly rejected his attempt to ban political activity and censor the media.